Author's Note
A story written for 2021 may original pairing contest.
It's my first time entering, I hope I did well for my first time. I'm trying to keep my creative juices flowing
Bubbly Kindness
Cozy Glow awakens to the sun shining through the curtains and into her eyes causing her to groan in annoyance and retreat under the covers. It has been one month since she tried to plunge Equestria into another realm. There was talk of sending her to Tartarus, but somepony disagreed and offered to let her stay with her to try and reform her. "That crazy mail mare is delusional, I'm not just gonna accept friendship for what they say it is." Cozy said to herself as a knock rapped on the door.
"GO AWAY!" Cozy shouted, irritated at the situation she found herself in, she would have preferred to be sent to Tartarus, if only that gray mare hadn't persuaded them of this.
The door opens and Derpy pops in her head, "now that's not very nice, after all I didn't have to stop them." The gray mare said as she came in and caringly pulled the covers off Cozy who was grimacing on the bed hooves crossed.
"Then why did you?" The young filly snapped back, almost daring her to tell them to do it anyway.
"Well, I believe everyone should have a second chance." She answered while folding the blanket and placing it at the foot of the bed. Derpy sighs and sits down on the bed with her. "It's not easy for me either you know, as much as I believe you can change, I still don't trust you. I decided to send Dinky to The School of Friendship where she'll stay until I can trust you." Derpy confessed as a tear ran down her cheek.
"Oh boo hoo. You should have thought about that before you decided to try and reform me." Cozy barked in a mocking tone when she said reform.
"I DID!" Derpy yelled surprising Cozy in the process before taking a breath. When she calmed down she continued, "I did, I also arranged for you to still attend classes, but you won't be living in the dorms, you'll have to return here."
"I still don't get why I have to wear this stupid anklet." Cozy said trying to pry off a golden anklet around her left back leg.
"Don't try so hard, that anklet can only be removed by magic that only one pony knows, it'll go off if you try to leave beyond Ponyville, pretty much you're bound to here, Sweet Apple Acres, Fluttershy's Cottage, and Zecora's. Go beyond the Everfree Forest and it'll go off and immediately transport you to Celestia." Derpy informed her trying to reason with her.
"Hmmph!" Cozy responded. holding disdain for the cross-eyed pony. "Golly, I sure wouldn't want that, oh, what awful punishment I might receive if I dare tempt her majesty " Cozy said sarcastically as she laid in bed hoping that if she kicks the hornet's nest enough, she'll get stung.
Derpy sighed and got off the bed. "Breakfast is ready, you're welcome to join me if you wish. My husband is away on business, so it'll be nice to have someone to talk to." Derpy said as she left the room. Cozy continued to stay there in defiance, but was soon overcome by her growling stomach. She groaned and reluctantly kept out of bed and made the trek downstairs.
Stepping hoof in the kitchen the smell of eggs made its way to her nose, on the table was a heavy breakfast for both of them consisting of eggs, toast with apple butter, pancakes with maple syrup cascading down the sides, a chocolate chip muffin, a glass of orange juice for Cozy and a cup of black coffee for Derpy. The smell nearly brought a tear to Cozy's eye as she sat down, Derpy seeing her smiles as she joined her.
After breakfast, Cozy sat in the living room as Derpy got dressed for work, since Cozy couldn't be left alone, she had to go with Derpy. Cozy knowing it'll be a lost cause to try and fight sat quietly as Derpy donned her uniform and her mail sack. "Ready to go?" The mail mare asked , Cozy begrudgingly got up and walked on the door with her.
While on the mail route Derpy striked up a conversation. "Why do you think friendship is power?" She asked, causing Cozy to go into a tangent.
"Because it is, the more friends you have, the more power you have. You can do or ask for whatever you want and they'll do it just so you'll stay on good terms." Cozy answered showing how twisted she looks at friendship and what friends are.
Derpy was shocked, but knew that this was the case, as she put a letter in the mailbox of a house she spoke up. "You're right in a way."
This shocked Cozy, "maybe I can turn this mare." She thought to herself as she and Derpy took off again. They flew to a small bench outside of Sugarcube Corner.
"Break time." Derpy said in a sing-song voice as Pinkie came out and took her order. Derpy also let Cozy order something as she was probably hungry.
As Pinkie left to fill the order, Derpy and Cozy sat in silence until Cozy broke it. "You're the first pony to agree with me, so why don't you help me?" Cozy tries to turn her which was soon struck down
"I don't agree with you, I simply said you were right in a way." Derpy responded causing Cozy to get irritated.
"IN A WAY?!, I AM RIGHT! friendship is power, and only a few know how to use it properly." Cozy bellowed causing some ponies to stare.
Derpy just chuckled causing Cozy to get more irritated "WHAT'S SO FUNNY!" She yelled as Pinkie came out with their order watching Cozy nervously.
"Yes, I said you were right in a way, because friendship is power, but not for you to use as control." Derpy said as she bit into her muffin.
Cozy stared at her order as she took a small bite."Golly, whatever do you mean by that?" She asked sarcastically not expecting anything wise from her.
"Friendship is power for you to use for yourself and others, friendship gives you power when you're at your lowest, it reminds you that life is worth living. The friendship you share with others gives them hope for a better tomorrow. Friendship is power to help, not to gain." Derpy said as she finished her muffin and tossed the wrapper in a nearby waste can, leaving Cozy a little stunned.
"I-I didn't think of it like that, a tear runs down Cozy's face. "I-I'm sorry, she began to cry causing Derpy to pull her into a hug. "I had to grow up so quickly, I don't have any parents so I had to be powerful for myself." Cozy said, burying her face in Derpy's chest.
"Shhhhh, it's alright now. You can now be a kid again, but you still have to atone for your crimes against Equestria." Derpy said comforting her. "That's why I asked for them to let me try to reform you, I saw a sad little filly who needed love." Cozy lifted Cozy's chin with her left wing and wiped her tears with her right. "I believe there is good in you, but it's up to you, to let it show. A guardian can only help." Cozy smiled as she hugged her guardian.
"Thank you, mommy." Cozy said, causing Derpy to blush, but Derpy embraced the hug.
"You're welcome" Derpy replied as they continued to sit there in a hug.
One month later Derpy arranged Dinky to live with them and still go to school. Cozy and Dinky seem to get along great. Derpy watches them play from the window as she prepares a dinner of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. On a wall hangs a document that reads.
This documents legally recognizes Mrs. Derpy Hooves and Mr. Whooves as the legal adopted parents of Cozy Glow.
Derpy smiles at the document as she calls them in for dinner.